Keeping Up With Technology

Enhanced All-Electrics and New Six-Axis Robot

A new all-electric machine line has a new clamp design and controller that reduce platen deflection and dry-cycle time compared with its predecessor.

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A new all-electric machine line has a new clamp design and controller that reduce platen deflection and dry-cycle time compared with its predecessor. Introduced at the recent International Plastics Fair in Tokyo by Toshiba Machine Co. Ltd. (represented here by Toshiba Machine Co. America, Elk Grove Village, Ill.), the EC-SX line will be offered in four models of 83, 110, 198, and 253 tons. They use Toshiba servomotors for plasticating, clamping, injection, and ejection, as well as standard electric motors for carriage movement and die-height adjustment. Standard injection speeds are 160 to 500 mm/sec, depending on injection-unit size. The 83-ton and 110-ton .models have direct-drive servomotors for injection, as well as the option to raise the injection speed to 1100 mm/sec. Toshiba’s new “Solid Clamp” design is a more rigid two-piece mechanism for the five-point toggle system that minimizes platen deflection. Injection units for the series also have been redesigned. Toshiba’s new optional Burn Free (BF) screw has a new coating and geometry designed to prevent burning of materials such as rigid PVC, acetal, nylon, and PBT. The screw comes in sizes up to 32 mm diam. for machines up to 110 tons. EC-SX presses have Toshiba’s newest process controller, the Injectvisor-V50, in which calculation speed has been improved 40% for more precise control. It also has a larger, 15.9-in. screen. New Dynamic Self Tuning (DST) control for injection (DST-Fill) and clamping (DST-Press) help maintain process stability to keep part-weight deviation extremely low, especially with use of regrind materials. DST control is offered initially only in Japan. Toshiba also brought out its first six-axis robot. The TV800 is designed for full integration with an EC-SX machine for parts handling and press-side QC checks. It has a stand-alone control at present but is intended for control by the machine. The robot has an 11-lb payload capacity and positioning accuracy is repeatable to ±0.02 mm. (847) 593-1616 • www.toshibamachine.com